Cerro Azul giant tortoise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cerro Azul giant tortoise |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Testudinidae |
| Genus: | Chelonoidis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
C. n. vicina
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| Trinomial name | |
| Chelonoidis niger vicina (Günther, 1875)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Cerro Azul giant tortoise (scientific name: Chelonoidis niger vicina) is a very special type of Galápagos tortoise. It's also known as the Iguana Cove tortoise or the Isabela Island giant tortoise.
These amazing creatures live only on Isabela Island in the famous Galápagos. When an animal lives only in one specific place, it's called endemic.
Contents
Discover the Cerro Azul Giant Tortoise
The Cerro Azul giant tortoise is one of the many unique animals found in the Galápagos. These islands are famous for their incredible wildlife. This particular tortoise is a subspecies, which means it's a distinct group within the larger Galápagos tortoise family.
Where Do They Live?
This tortoise subspecies makes its home on Isabela Island. Isabela is the largest island in the Galápagos chain. The tortoises are often found near the Cerro Azul volcano, which is how they got their name.
Why Their Numbers Dropped
Sadly, the population of the Cerro Azul giant tortoise has faced tough times. Over the last 200 years, their numbers dropped a lot.
Past Challenges for Tortoises
Sailors visiting the islands often hunted these tortoises for food. They were an easy target. Later, in the late 1950s and 1960s, cattle companies caused more harm. Their employees hunted many tortoises near Iguana Cove.
Scientists believe that the Cerro Azul giant tortoise population might even share some living areas with another tortoise subspecies, Chelonoidis niger guentheri.
What Does This Tortoise Look Like?
The Cerro Azul giant tortoise has a very strong and thick shell. Its shell shape is somewhere between a "saddle-backed" and a "domed" shell. It doesn't get much narrower at the front.
Shell Shapes and Sizes
Male tortoises are usually bigger than females. They also tend to have more of a "saddle-backed" shell. This means the front of their shell curves upwards, like a saddle. This shape helps them reach higher plants. Females, on the other hand, usually have a more "domed" shell, which is rounder and more like a dome.
Protecting Baby Tortoises
For a long time, it was very hard for baby tortoises to survive. Almost all nests and hatchlings (baby tortoises) were destroyed. This happened because of animals like black rats, pigs, dogs, and cats. These animals were brought to the islands by humans and became a big threat to the tortoise eggs and young.
Today, there are special programs to help protect these amazing tortoises. Scientists and conservationists work hard to keep them safe.
See also
In Spanish: Tortuga gigante de Isabela para niños
